University of Technology, Sydney

Staff directory | Webmail | Maps | Newsroom | What's on

41028 Engineering Work Experience

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2018 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Engineering
Credit points: 0 cp
Result type: Grade, no marks

Requisite(s): ( 41035 Engineering Practice Preparation 1 OR ((41035 Engineering Practice Preparation 1 OR 42015 Engineering Practice in an Australian Context)))
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 94680 Entering Professional Life (6cp) AND 94681 Entering Professional Life (8cp)

Description

This is a 0-credit-point subject that supports students while they are working in industry or the community for the purpose of gaining experience in the practice of engineering. Through engaging in practice-oriented education and regular reflection, students are provided with the opportunity to discover engineering workplace culture and to develop their basic technical and professional skills.

Engineering educators, as well as engineering employers, have long recognised the value of integrating practical experience with academic studies. Each student's experience is unique. Employer or host organisations are not expected to provide formal training although some may choose to do so. Students are instead required to become active learners and seek opportunities to fulfil the objectives of this experience module. It is expected that students gain this level of experience early in their academic program.

The professional engineering practice stream is based on a preparation subject, a work experience subject and a reflection subject. This is the work experience (middle) subject in the program. This subject involves students observing, practicing and reflecting on their development in basic technical and professional competencies.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

01. Participate in an engineering workplace;
02. Maintain an e-portfolio with reflective learning journal to reflect on and document learning experiences
03. Relate the theoretical knowledge you have gained in your studies to your workplace and vice-versa;
04. Identify the extension of your engineering knowledge;
05. Reflect upon workplace cultures and behaviours and further develop a professional manner;
06. Reflect upon important aspects of engineering practice so that you can recognise and adopt appropriate and ethical behavior;
07. Reflect upon you development of effective communication and documentation skills appropriate to professional engineering;
08. Reflect upon tensions between personal, organisational and wider social issues, and strategies to address these tensions;
09. Reflect on your contribution to social wellbeing and sustainability through applying your engineering knowledge in your workplace.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following faculty Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs) and Engineers Australia (EA) Stage 1 competencies:

  • Self-management - Graduates must have capabilities for self-organisation, self-review, personal development and lifelong learning (D.0)
  • Communication and coordination - Engineering practice involves the coordination of a range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary activities to arrive at problem and design solutions. (E.0)
  • Communicate effectively in ways appropriate to the discipline, audience and purpose, which is linked to EA Stage 1 Competency: 3.2 (E.1)
  • Be able to conduct critical self-review and performance evaluation against appropriate criteria as a primary means of tracking personal development needs and achievements, which is linked to EA Stage 1 Competency: 3.5 (F.1)
  • Appreciate ethical implications of professional practice, which is linked to EA Stage 1 Competency: 3.1 (F.2)
  • Understand cross-cultural issues (regions and workplaces), which is linked to EA Stage 1 Competencies: 1.6, 3.1 (F.3)
  • Be aware of global perspectives (needs, rules/regulations, and specifications), which is linked to EA Stage 1 Competencies: 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2 , 2.3, 3.6 (F.4)

Teaching and learning strategies

Although this is subject comprises work experience with no formal classes, opportunities exist for students to collaborate and discuss their experiences through an online discussion forum. Through active learning students develop their lifelong learning skills by making regular entries into an online reflective learning journal. Extensive resources and guidance are provided for students through videos, readings and information provided in the subject on UTSOnline. Collaborative learning takes place on the work site between student and workforce. A sample of journal entries are authentically assessed on a regular basis through the internship for structure and relevance according to a rubric and marks awarded accordingly. Formative feedback is provided to students through feedback comments provided in the rubric when a journal entry has been assessed, and through email communication with students. This assists students to improve in their reflective writing and journal keeping. As each student's internship experience is unique, the subject of fortnightly reflections can vary, however, in general, students should aim to develop some of the UTS:FEIT graduate attributes and document these in their e-portfolio.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Find a job suitable for a 12 week work experience

Intent:

Students must secure a work experience job before undertaking this subject.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

01

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs):

D.0 and E.0

Weight: Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark
Criteria:

Completeness – a suitable engineering job is obtained that meets the criteria outlined above for Task 1 and in the Engineering Practice Program Guide.

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
completeness 100 01 D.0, E.0
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Submit your work experience start documentation

Intent:

To gain timely enrolment in this subject and provide the necessary insurance cover

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

01 and 07

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs):

D.0 and E.0

Weight: Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark
Criteria:

Completeness – forms are filled out correctly.

Timeliness – forms are submitted within the required time.

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
completeness, timelines 100 01, 07 D.0, E.0
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Keep a reflective learning journal & e-portfolio

Intent:

To provide a framework for developing and documenting graduate attributes during the internship.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08 and 09

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs):

D.0, E.1, F.1, F.2, F.3 and F.4

Type: Reflection
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 100%
Criteria:

completeness - minimum requirement of 6 journal entries as per instructions and 2 developing attribute claims in the e-portfolio

quality - items are assessed according to the published rubric

timeliness - entries must be submitted according to your schedule as determined on the spreadsheet on UTSOnline. Any entries submitted late will incur a marks penalty

originality - must be student's own work

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
timeliness 20 02 D.0
completeness 10 03 F.1
completeness 20 04 F.1
quality 10 05 F.3
quality 10 06 F.2
originality 10 07 E.1
quality 10 08 F.4
quality 10 09 F.4
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 4: Submit your work experience finish documentation

Intent:

To provide a trigger for final assessment & completion in the subject

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

01 and 07

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs):

D.0 and E.0

Weight: Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark
Criteria:

Completeness – forms are filled out correctly.

Timeliness – forms are submitted within the required time.

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
completeness, timeliness 100 01, 07 D.0, E.0
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

References

Biggs, John & Collis, Kevin. 1982. Evaluating the Quality of Learning: The SOLO Taxonomy. New York: Academic Press.

Dowling. David, Carey, Anna & Hadgraft, Roger 2013. Engineering Your Future: An Australasian Guide, 2nd ed. Milton (QLD): John Wiley & Sons.

Engineers Australia. 2010. Code of Ethics, viewed 18/02/2015 - <http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/shado/About%20Us/Overview/Governance/codeofethics2010.pdf>

Fleddermann, C.B. 2012. Engineering Ethics. Upper Saddle River (NJ): Prentice Hall. [UTS Library call no. 174.962 FLED]

Gray, D., Cundell, S., Hay, D. & O'Neill, J. 2004. Learning Through the Workplace: A Guide to Work-based Learning. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes. [UTS Library call no. 371.227 GRAY]

Lannon, John M. 2006. Technical Communication, 10th ed. Boston (MA): Pearson Longman. [UTS Library call no. 808.0666 LANN (ED.8) - version 8 only available]

Neugebauer, John & Evans-Brain, Jane. 2009. Making the Most of Your Placement, Ch. 8: Learning From Your Placement. London: SAGE, pp. 100-124. [Available online at the UTS Library at http://find.lib.uts.edu.au/?R=OPAC_b2794905.]

Spier, R.E. 2001. Ethics, Tools and the Engineer. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press. [UTS Library call no . 174.962 SPIE]

Vallero, D. & Vesilind, P. 2007. Socially Responsible Engineering: Justice in Risk Management. Hoboken (NJ): John Wiley & Sons. Available online at the UTS Library at http://find.lib.uts.edu.au/?R=OPAC_b2311828. UTS Library call no. 174.9628 VALL]